Jermaine Jones has been suspended for four Bundesliga games because of a red card tackle in Schalke 04’s loss to VfB Stuttgart, meaning he’ll likely be available for U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s January camp.

Although notorious for his physical play, Jones never had been shown a straight red card until Saturday. His reputation might have played a role in the length of the ban, however. He was docked eight games last winter for stomping on an opponent away from the play during a German Cup match.

Schalke said it will appeal the latest sanction, but for now Jones is slated to be out of action until Feb. 9 because the Bundesliga takes a one-month break lasting from mid-December to mid-January. The incident occurred Saturday in the 73rd minute, when Jones launched himself at Stuttgart’s Ibrahima Traoré from behind. Jones took to Twitter later to apologize, sort of.

He wrote: “Sorry for the red card. But I’m not 100 percent on the ref’s side. And I also don’t need to go there in a 50/50 ball. Sorry boys and Schalke fans.”

The U.S. national team’s January camp typically doesn’t include players from the European leagues outside Scandinavia because they’re at midseason. But this year, because of his suspension, Jones participated in Klinsmann’s camp and captained the U.S. in exhibitions against Panama and Venezuela.

It now appears he’ll be available again. Klinsmann said recently that he’d like to conduct a camp during the second half of January leading up to an exhibition match on the 30th or 31st. He might carry some of those players over to the team that will travel to Honduras for a World Cup qualifier Feb. 6.

Speaking to a small group of reporters ahead of the MLS Cup final in Los Angeles, Klinsmann said he valued Jones’ approach and impact on the game.

“I know that a lot of people here look differently at Jermaine Jones than you would look at him in Europe, but his presence is a big plus for us,” Klinsmann said. “He’s a game-changer. He’s a presence. And he is one of those players that no opponent would like to deal with. There are payers when you see them on the field, the opponent struggles with. ‘Shoot, this guy again?’... His presence, his hunger. ‘Shoot, Do I need that today?’ ”

Jones has played 26 times for the U.S. and has two goals, four assists and 11 yellow cards.